MR L. RAHMAN (MAYOR) IN THE CHAIR

ADJOURNMENT

At this juncture the Mayor informed those present that before he and his Cabinet proceeded to consideration of the substantive business set out in the agenda, there would be an opportunity for the public to put questions to himself, the Deputy Mayor, and other Members comprising the Cabinet who were present. Accordingly the Mayor agreed the following:

Decision

That the Cabinet adjourn for a short period at 5.35pm, and that the meeting reconvene thereafter.

Question & Answer Session

The Mayor asked those present in the public gallery whether they had any questions for himself or members of the Cabinet.

No questions were received.

The meeting reconvened at 5.36pm

To receive any apologies for absence.

·                    Councillor Oliur Rahman, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services.

·                    Councillor Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Culture.

Noted.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of:

·                    Councillor Oliur Rahman, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services.

·                    Councillor Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Culture.

Noted.

To note any declarations of interest made by Members, including those restricting Members from voting on the questions detailed in Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992.  See attached note from the Chief Executive.

No declarations of Interest were made.

Noted.

No declarations of interest were made pertaining to the unrestricted business to be considered in Section One of the proceedings.

Noted.

The unrestricted minutes of the ordinary meeting of the Cabinet held on 7^th September 2011 are attached.

The unrestricted minutes of the ordinary meeting of the Cabinet held on 7^th September 2011 had been circulated for information (Agenda – 5^th October Cabinet).

The unrestricted minutes of the ordinary meeting of the Cabinet held on 7^th September 2011 had been circulated for information (Agenda – 5^th October Cabinet).

To receive any petitions.

Nil items.

The clerk advised that the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services) had received no requests for petitions in respect of the business contained in the agenda.

To receive any advice of key issues or questions in relation to the unrestricted business to be considered, arising from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 4^th October 2011.

Decision

That the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to Agenda Item 10.1 “Disposal of Northumberland Wharf Waste Transfer Station” be noted, and that these be given consideration during the Cabinet deliberation of the item of business to which the comments related.

Action by:

ASSISTANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE – LEGAL SERVICES (I. FREEMAN)

Interim Committee Services Manager (Operational), Democratic Services, Chief Executive’s (A. Taylor)

Councillor Jackson, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC), addressed members of the Cabinet:

·                    Reporting comments arising from OSC consideration of the report “Disposal of Northumberland Wharf Waste Transfer Station” to inform Cabinet consideration of the same report.

·                    Formally introducing three scrutiny review reports contained in the agenda before Cabinet for consideration: “The Public Perceptions of Parking”, “Empowering Small and Medium Sized Enterprises”, “Supporting New Communities, Case Study of the Somali Community”; and highlighting the following aspects in respect of each review:

o              Objectives and Issues investigated.

o              Methodology used to gather evidence.

o              Key findings and associated recommendations.

Councillor Pavitt formally introduced the scrutiny review report “Safeguarding Adults at Risk”, contained in the agenda before Cabinet for consideration, on which she had been the Councillor lead, and highlighted aspects of the review as above.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Jackson for presenting the contribution of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and also Councillor Pavitt for formally introducing the scrutiny review report on which she had been the Councillor lead; however he also expressed his disappointment that the Councillor leads for the remaining three scrutiny reviews reports, had failed to attend the Cabinet meeting to formally introduce these despite his request that they do so. The Mayor then agreed the following:

Decision

That the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to Agenda Item 10.1 “Disposal of Northumberland Wharf Waste Transfer Station” be noted, and that these be given consideration during the Cabinet deliberation of the item of business to which the comments related.

(Under provisions of Article 6 Para 6.02 V of the Constitution).

The following item has been “called in” for further consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting to be held on 4^th October 2011. Should the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, upon consideration, refer the item back to the Cabinet for further consideration Members will receive a copy of the report and the decision/ recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at the Cabinet meeting.

(i)                 Recording/ Webcasting Council Meetings

5.2(i) Cabinet Decision “Called in” Recording / Webcasting of Council Meetings (CAB 043/112)

Reference from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, held on 4^th October 2011, Tabled by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Response of Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services) to the reference from Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 4^th October 2011, Tabled.

Decision

1.         That the comments/ advice/ recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as detailed in the Tabled Reference (CAB 043/112), be noted; and

2.                  That the provisional decision of the Mayor/Cabinet, made on 7^th September 2011, in relation to theRecording / Webcasting of Council Meetings report (CAB 034/112) be reaffirmed.

Action by:

ASSISTANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE (LEGAL SERVICES) (I FREEMAN)

Service Head, Democratic Services (J. Williams)

5.2(i) Cabinet Decision “Called in” Recording / Webcasting of Council Meetings (CAB 043/112)

The Mayor informed members of the Cabinet that:

·                    Councillor Jackson, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC), had Tabled a reference (CAB 043/112) setting out the deliberations of the OSC, held on 4^th October 2011, in respect of the decision of the Executive Mayor at Cabinet, on 7^th September 2011, made in relation to the report “Recording / Webcasting of Council Meetings” (CAB 034/112), a copy of which would be interleaved with the minutes.

·                    A detailed response to the matters raised by the OSC set out in the tabled reference regarding this agenda item, had been Tabled by the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services), a copy of which would be interleaved with the minutes.

Councillor Jackson, Chair of the OSC, addressed the Mayor and Cabinet members in relation to the tabled reference of the OSC (CAB 043/112), and recommendations made by OSC in referring this matter back to the Cabinet for further consideration, as set out in paragraph 6.2 and 6.3 of the reference. Councillor Jackson also responded to subsequent questions of clarification raised by members of the Cabinet.

Ms Freeman, Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services), at the request of the Mayor, addressed the Mayor and Cabinet members in relation to the matters raised by the OSC in the tabled reference and also her tabled response to this, as follows:

·                    Emphasising in relation to Option 1 “use existing equipment”, recommended by the OSC as a temporary measure, that Officers could not commend this option as they considered the existing equipment was not fit for purpose for a number of reasons leading to a poor user experience including:

o                    Age, unreliability and generally problematic sound quality.

o                    Video output was a split screen of four sections fed by fixed cameras and did not capture the debate or the speaker sequentially.

o                    Sound quality was also dependent on speakers switching their microphones on and off and did not capture comments made other than at the microphone in use.

o                    The output could not be followed on a laptop.

o                    There would be no indexing or search facility to assist the viewer who may wish to find a particular item or section of the debate rather than view the whole meeting. 

·                    Highlighting the additional information provided in the tabled response which indicated poor viewing figures for webcasting output provided by other Councils.

Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor, commented that only six of thirty two London boroughs provided web casting and also that the LB of Croydon had ceased to do so for budget reasons. He also commented that often viewer figures were as low as 100 per meeting and therefore considered that the additional expenditure necessary to implement the webcasting of Council meetings did not represent value for money the borough’s residents, and this was more important in the context of current budgetary constraints facing the Authority.

The Mayor:

·                    Thanked Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.2

Decision

That the report and recommendations contained therein, of the Scrutiny Review Working Group on the Public Perceptions of Parking, as agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in April 2011 and attached at Appendix One to the report (CAB 036/112), be noted.

Action by:

ASSISTANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE (LEGAL SERVICES)

Service Head One Tower Hamlets, Chief Executive’s (M. Keating)

Service Manager, Strategy Policy and Performance, One Tower Hamlets, Chief Executive’s (K. Kewin)

Strategy Policy and Performance Officer, Strategy Policy and Performance, One Tower Hamlets, Chief Executive’s (R. Driver)

Councillor Shahed Ali, Cabinet Member for Environment, at the request of the Mayor, in introducing the report summarised the key points contained therein. He also welcomed the report of the Scrutiny Review Working Group as informative and helpful, and advised that an action plan was being formulated in response to the recommendations arising from the Review. Some steps had already been taken/ other work was underway in respect of the communications focus including:

·                    Distribution to One Stop Shops and Libraries of a leaflet “Ten simple rules to avoid a ticket” and also publication in East End Life.

·                    Drafting updated website content to address other parking issues such as parking on Registered Social Landlord (RSL) or NHS property.

·                    Setting up a Residents Parking Forum to ‘test’ the suggested improvements before a wider public roll out.

·                    Preparation of a consultation exercise on the times of parking control and other parking issues.

Concern was expressed that the Scrutiny Review had not identified:

·                    Difficulties experienced by small businesses whose customers were served with Penalty Charge Notices after parking in front of shops and being recorded by CCTV cameras.

·                    The effects of bailiffs’ fees in raising the costs of recovering parking fines.

·                    The responsibility of the RSLs for parking enforcement on some estates in the borough and the differences in their approach to that of the Authority.

·                    The financial benefits to the Authority of the Review in the current climate of financial constraint.

The Mayor thanked the Scrutiny Review Working Group for its valuable work and agreed the following:

Decision

That the report and recommendations contained therein, of the Scrutiny Review Working Group on the Public Perceptions of Parking, as agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in April 2011 and attached at Appendix One to the report (CAB 036/112), be noted.

Reasons for Decisions

These are detailed in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.2 of the report (CAB 036/112)

Alternative Options Considered

These are detailed in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.2 of the report (CAB 036/112)

Decision

That the report and recommendations contained therein, of the Scrutiny Review Working Group on Empowering Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, as agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in June 2011 and attached at Appendix One to the report (CAB 037/112), be noted.

Action by:

ASSISTANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE (LEGAL SERVICES)

Service Head One Tower Hamlets, Chief Executive’s (M. Keating)

Service Manager, Strategy Policy and Performance, One Tower Hamlets, Chief Executive’s (K. Kewin)

Strategy Policy and Performance Officer, Strategy Policy and Performance, One Tower Hamlets, Chief Executive’s (S. Barr)

Strategy Policy and Performance Officer, Communities Localities and Culture (K. Okawa)

Councillor Shafiqul Haque, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Skills, at the request of the Mayor, in introducing the report summarised the key points contained therein, commenting that the Authority’s Enterprise Strategy was currently being drafted and would not only encompass the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review Working Group but go much further.

The Mayor thanked the Scrutiny Review Working Group for its valuable work and agreed the following:

Decision

That the report and recommendations contained therein, of the Scrutiny Review Working Group on Empowering Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, as agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in June 2011 and attached at Appendix One to the report (CAB 037/112), be noted.

Reasons for Decisions

These are detailed in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.2 of the report (CAB 037/112)

Alternative Options Considered

These are detailed in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.2 of the report (CAB 037/112)

Nil items.

Nil items.

The Clerk advised that there were no business to be considered under this section of the agenda.

Decision

That the Tower Hamlets Food Law Enforcement Plan 2011/2012 and Food Sampling Policy, as attached at Appendix 1 to the report (CAB 038/112), be approved.

Action by

CORPORATE DIRECTOR COMMUNITIES, LOCALITIES AND CULTURE

(S. HALSEY)

Service Head Public Realm, Communities, Localities and Culture(J. Blake)

Head of Commercial Services,Environmental Control, Public Realm, Communities, Localities and Culture(C. Perrins)

Environmental Health Commercial and Corporate Health & Safety Service Manager, Public Realm, Communities, Localities and Culture (D. Tolley)

Mr Halsey, Corporate Director Communities, Localities and Culture, at the request of the Chair, in introducing the report; briefly summarised the key points contained therein.

The Mayor agreed the recommendations as set out in the report.

Decision

That the Tower Hamlets Food Law Enforcement Plan 2011/2012 and Food Sampling Policy, as attached at Appendix 1 to the report (CAB 038/112), be approved.

Reasons for Decisions

These are detailed in paragraph 3.1 of the report (CAB 038/112)

Alternative Options Considered

These are detailed in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.2 of the report (CAB 038/112)

Decision

That the report and recommendations contained therein, of the Scrutiny Review Working Group on Safeguarding Adults at Risk, as agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in April 2011 and attached at Appendix One to the report (CAB 039/112), be noted.

Action by:

ASSISTANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE (LEGAL SERVICES)

Service Head One Tower Hamlets, Chief Executive’s (M. Keating)

Service Manager, Strategy Policy and Performance, One Tower Hamlets, Chief Executive’s (K. Kewin)

Strategy Policy and Performance Officer, Strategy Policy and Performance, One Tower Hamlets, Chief Executive’s (M. Ahad)

Councillor Abdul Asad, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at the request of the Mayor, in introducing the report summarised the key points contained therein:

·                    Welcoming the report of the Scrutiny Review Working Group which emphasised the importance of protecting this vulnerable section of the community.

·                    Responding to the recommendations arising from the Scrutiny Review, commenting as follows:

o                    Adult social care in Tower Hamlets was assessed as “excellent” for six years running and safeguarding adults services were assessed as “Performing Well”. In the previous year Adult Social Care responded to 528 adult safeguarding referrals; an increase of almost 50% on the previous year.

o                    In a difficult financial climate adult safeguarding services had been protected and savings have not been taken from this area in 2011/12.

o                    The transformation of adult social care had focused on safeguarding as a key area with services re-designed to ensure there was a quick and informed response to safeguarding referrals.

o                    The Safeguarding Adults Board had an independent Chair, a broad range of representation from all statutory services as well as third sector representatives and membership was reviewed regularly by the Independent Chair. However work was underway to increase third sector representation and to ensure that there was service user representation on the Board.

o                    Including service users in the planning and delivery of social care services was a key part of transforming adult social care, and a project was being designed with THink to support services users to measure the quality of safeguarding services as well as broader adult social care services.

o                    More work was needed to engage with “hard to reach” communities, and work was underway to map gaps in service provision and look at how to improve awareness and take up of safeguarding support particularly in BME communities.

The Mayor thanked the Scrutiny Review Working Group for its valuable work and agreed the following:

Decision

That the report and recommendations contained therein, of the Scrutiny Review Working Group on Safeguarding Adults at Risk, as agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in April 2011 and attached at Appendix One to the report (CAB 039/112), be noted.

Reasons for Decisions

These are detailed in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.2 of the report (CAB 039/112)

Alternative Options Considered

These are detailed in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.2 of the report (CAB 039/112)

Decision

1.         That it be agreed and formally declared that the Northumberland Wharf site is surplus to requirements [of the Authority] in the medium term only;

2.         That the Corporate Director of Development & Renewal be authorised to market the site as a waste management facility with RRC [Re-use and Recycling Centre] service safeguarded on site at no cost to the Council and to complete a medium term lease (no more than five years, ending in 2017) based on terms that represent best value for the Council.; and

3.         That the Assistant Chief Executive be authorised to execute all necessary documents to implement decision 2 above.

Action by

CORPORATE DIRECTOR COMMUNITIES, LOCALITIES AND CULTURE

(S. HALSEY)

Service Head Public Realm, Communities, Localities and Culture(J. Blake)

Head of Waste Strategy, Policy and Procurement, Public Realm, Communities, Localities and Culture (F. Heyland)

Mr Halsey, Corporate Director Communities, Localities and Culture, at the request of the Mayor, in introducing the report:

·                    Briefly summarised the key points contained therein.

·                    Addressed the matters raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, held on 4^th October 2011, in relation to the report; as reported by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee earlier in the proceedings.

The Mayor agreed the recommendations as set out in the report.

Decision

1.         That it be agreed and formally declared that the Northumberland Wharf site is surplus to requirements [of the Authority] in the medium term only;

2.         That the Corporate Director of Development & Renewal be authorised to market the site as a waste management facility with RRC [Re-use and Recycling Centre] service safeguarded on site at no cost to the Council and to complete a medium term lease (no more than five years, ending in 2017) based on terms that represent best value for the Council.; and

3.         That the Assistant Chief Executive be authorised to execute all necessary documents to implement decision 2 above.

Reasons for Decisions

These are detailed in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.2 of the report (CAB 040/112)

Alternative Options Considered

These are detailed in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.2 of the report (CAB 040/112)

Decision

That the report and recommendations contained therein, of the Scrutiny Review Working Group on Supporting New Communities - Case Study of the Somali Community, as agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in June 2011 and attached at Appendix One to the report (CAB 041/112), be noted.

Action by:

ASSISTANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE (LEGAL SERVICES)

Service Head One Tower Hamlets, Chief Executive’s (M. Keating)

Service Manager, Strategy Policy and Performance, One Tower Hamlets, Chief Executive’s (K. Kewin)

Strategy Policy and Performance Officer, Strategy Policy and Performance, One Tower Hamlets, Chief Executive’s (M. Ahad)

The Mayor thanked the Scrutiny Review Working Group for its valuable work and agreed the following:

Decision

That the report and recommendations contained therein, of the Scrutiny Review Working Group on Supporting New Communities - Case Study of the Somali Community, as agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in June 2011 and attached at Appendix One to the report (CAB 041/112), be noted.

Reasons for Decisions

These are detailed in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.2 of the report (CAB 041/112)

Alternative Options Considered

These are detailed in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.2 of the report (CAB 041/112)

To consider any other unrestricted business that the Mayor considers to be urgent.

Nil items.

The Clerk advised that there were no business to be considered under this section of the agenda.

Report withdrawn.

The Clerk informed the Mayor and members of the Cabinet that the report had been withdrawn by the Corporate Director Children Schools and Families.

In view of the contents of the remaining items on the agenda, the Committee is recommended to adopt the following motion:

“That, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act, 1985, the Press and Public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting for the consideration of the Section Two business on the grounds that it contains information defined as Exempt in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government, Act 1972”.

EXEMPT/CONFIDENTIAL SECTION (PINK)

The agenda circulated contained no Section Two business (business containing information defined as exempt or confidential in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government, Act 1972. There was therefore no requirement to exclude the press and public, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, to allow for consideration of such business prior to the conclusion of the meeting.

SUMMARY OF EXEMPT PROCEEDINGS

The agenda circulated contained no Section Two business (business containing information defined as exempt or confidential in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government, Act 1972. There was therefore no requirement to exclude the press and public, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, to allow for consideration of such business prior to the conclusion of the meeting.

SUMMARY OF EXEMPT PROCEEDINGS

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

(Under provisions of Article 6 Para 6.02 V of the Constitution).

Nil items.

(Under provisions of Article 6 Para 6.02 V of the Constitution).

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

To consider any other exempt/ confidential business that the Mayor considers to be urgent.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.